Matt Saronson is a partner in the firm’s Tax Department whose practice focuses on advising sponsors and investors on the U.S. and international tax aspects of private equity funds and representing private equity and corporate clients in complex, cross-border and multijurisdictional acquisitions, dispositions, financings and partnership transactions. Working with the firm’s fund formation lawyers in the United States, Europe and Asia, he has advised on a broad spectrum of private funds. Mr. Saronson is a member of the taxation committee of the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association and of the international tax and tax reporting working group of Invest Europe (previously the European Private Equity & Venture Capital Association).
Mr. Saronson is recognised in The Legal 500 UK (2024). In previous editions of the guide he is noted for his ability to “distil sophisticated concepts into plain English.” He is also recommended by Who’s Who Legal (2024). He joined Debevoise’s New York office in 1997 and relocated to the firm’s London office in 2003, where he became a partner in 2006.
Mr. Saronson has published numerous articles and is a frequent public speaker. Recent publications include “U.S. withholding tax on transfers of partnership interests,” BVCA Technical Bulletin (May, 2021); “Sale and Purchase Agreement, incl. Taxes,” Invest Europe Fund Secondary Transactions Training (February, 2020); “US Tax Reforms,” BVCA Technical Bulletin (May, 2018); “BEPS: LPs React To New Tax Environment,” Private Equity International (December/January, 2018); and “BEPS Action 6 And Private Equity Funds,” Tax Journal (March, 2017).
Recent speaking engagements include “Sale and Purchase Agreements,” Invest Europe Fund Secondary Transactions Online Training (March, 2023 & February and September, 2021); “International Tax Developments,” BVCA Tax, Legal and Regulatory Conference (November, 2020); “Sale and Purchase Agreement,” Invest Europe Fund Secondary Transactions Training (September, 2020); “Legal Strategies: Balancing GP Interests and Maintaining Marketable Positioning to LPs,” EMPEA Masterclass – London (October, 2019); “Recent tax changes and their impact on private equity,” BVCA Summit Conference (October, 2018); “Legal Strategies: Balancing GP Interests and Maintaining Competitive and Marketable Positioning to LPs,” EMPEA Masterclass (October, 2018); “Mergers and Acquisitions,” EMPEA Masterclass (October, 2018); “Key Tax issues and Developments,” Invest Europe Fund Structuring Training (September, 2018); “US Tax Reform - Impact for the Luxembourg Fund Industry,” Arendt Seminar on US Tax Reform (July, 2018); and “Legal Strategies: Balancing GP Interests and Maintaining Competitive and Marketable Positioning to LPs,” EMPEA Fundraising Masterclass (October, 2017).
Mr. Saronson received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) in 1994, where he graduated with highest honors, and a J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he graduated with highest honors in 1997 and was a member of the Law Review. Mr. Saronson was a member of the Order of the Coif and Phi Beta Kappa. He is admitted to the bar in New York and Vermont.